Carriage-top-operating device.



-' PATENTED AUG. 11'. 1903.

J. H. KING, CARRIAGE TOP OPERATING DEVICE.

API LIOATION FILED MAR. 12. 1900.

NO MODEL.

TINVENTOR WITNESSES V Attqrney I Patented August ll, 1903.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB H. KINGr,-OF PIQUA, OHIO.

CARRlAGE-TOP-OPERLATING DEVlC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,779, dated August 1 1, 1903.

Application filed March 12, 1900. Serial No. 8,361. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB H. KING, a resident of Piqua,in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage-Top-OperatingDevices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in carriage-top-operating devices, the object of the invention being to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which will be extremely simple in construction, easily placed in position on a carriage-top, readily operated from the seat of the carriage, and which will constitute an antirattler.

YVith this object in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts,- as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim,

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective,illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section, showing the manner of assembling the parts; and Figs. 3', 4, and 5 are views of details of construction.

A represents a carriage-top having the usual bows 1 and inclined brace 2, hinged between its ends, as shown at 3.

My improved operating mechanism comprises at each side of the top a shaft 4, having an outwardlyvprojecting lever or handhold 5 at its inner end. The shaft 4'is made with a peripheral shoulder 6 near one end, disposed against a washer '7, (of fiexible'material,) secured to the inner face of the top'A. The outer end of the shaft is contracted at each side, as shown at 8, and a bracket 9, having an opening 10 in its upper portion simi-.

larly shaped to the contracted end of the shaft,

is slipped onto the end of the shaft, and the upper end of the brace 2 is also placed on the end of shaft 4. its lower end at each side with an outwardlyprojecting lug ll, betweenwhich the brace is The bracket 9 is, provided on secured and compelled to move "therewith. The extreme outer end of the shaft 4 is screwthreaded for the reception of a nut 12 to lock the brace on the shaft.

The bow 1 is mounted on the circular portion of the shaft 1, and an externally-screwthreaded tubular bearing 13, having a peripheral flange 14 at its inner end disposed against the outer face ofthe top A, is disposed on the shaft 4, and an internally-threaded sleeve 15 is screwed onto bearing 13 and is adapted to be adjusted to entirely inclose the shaft and hold the tube 13, bow 1, bracket 9, and brace 2 against any independent lateral movement, and hence constitutes an antirattler.

It will be seen that when the top A is up and it is desired to lower the same it is simply necessary to pull down on the levers .5, which will break the brace at its hinged portion :5 and permit't-he top to fold back, and when it is desired to raise the top it is simply necessary to reach back, grasp the levers 5, and pull them forward, thus raising the top to an upright position, when the braces 2 will become straight and hold the top in its upright position.

Various slight changes might be resorted to in the general form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I- claim'as new, and desire to secure by Letters :Patent, is

The combination with a carriage-top, of a and brace, the said shaft --11avin a flattened face, an arm located on the portion of the shaft having the flattened face, at brace specification in the presence of two subscribmounted loosely 011 the flattened portion of ing witnesses. the shaft, lugs on the free end of said arm and embracing said brace, and a nut screwed 5 0n the free end of the shaft and engaging said Vitnesses: brace. G. A. BROOKS,

In testimony whereof I have signed this MARIANA M. BROOKS.

JACOB H. KING. 

